Symbolism and Irony in “The Story of an Hour”“ The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is about a woman named Mrs. Mallard, who learns that her just died in an accident. As I continued to read the story I learned that Mrs. Mallard, was not your ordinary grieving widow, she is actually somewhat happy of the news of her husband’s death. Chopin uses symbolism and irony to show readers the world through Mrs. Mallard’s eyes. Symbolism was a strong term in the story, mainly because Chopin uses symbols in many of her paragraphs. Also the author uses irony to get readers to understand why she is so happy that she is free of her husband. The two literary elements that are prevalent in the story is symbolism and irony because Chopin uses them the most to create different feelings in the readers’ minds.

In the “ Story of an Hour” Chopin uses symbolism as much as she can throughout the story. The symbolism begins when Chopin says “ the delicious breath of rain was in the air” (23). I believe this means she is about to start a new life, and that she can finally start living for herself. Another example, is “ there stood facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair” (23). The open window symbolizes being open to change; the adjectives roomy and comfortable symbolizes a feeling of being embraced, a feeling of love and security. While looking through the window Chopin describes other symbols such as: The warm weather which suggest life rather then the cold of winter that symbolizes death. I believe the quote “ were all

quiver with the new spring life” (23), symbolizes a new life to come, or maybe something new and exciting was about to happen in her life. The setting of a “ delicious breath of rain” in the air refers to the calmness and quietness after the storm (23). I believe Chopin uses that to refer to Mr. Mallard’s death and the new life she will have now that she is free of him. Another thing outside the window are the “ singing of birds” and “...

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